lynchpin_castle | Challenge Zones

Challenge Zones

Challenges and Challenge Zones

Challenges between Champions will take place in designated areas at designated times, since this is ultimately a formal contest and competition between the Forces of Creation, and the Forces of Unmaking. The landscape in the void will and can adapt to provide these designated areas. Sometimes, a designated area will have a ‘base’ form, and be used again and again in various ways, with different options. These specific zones are listed below.

The Labyrinth (Primarily Mental)

The labyrinth is, in its simplest form, a complex maze. Long have beings used it as a tool of mediation and focus, navigating its walls whether in the physical or mental realms. The Labyrinth is one of the main challenge-zones that always exists, but what form it takes depends on what the current challenge is. What form it takes may also have limits and restrictions to provide a proper challenge to the champions.

The base form of the Labyrinth is an enclosed and complex maze that resists attempts to break out via any means other than navigating it from start to finish. It’s layout-changes every time, but there are ways to help one learn one’s way. (String, marking the walls, etc)

The Labyrinth Zone may be reached via a teleportation pad within the Observation room of the Castle.

The Mirror Gallery (Primarily Spiritual)

The Mirror Gallery has many names, but this is the most common. Mirrors are reflections, and reflections can be distorted or far too accurate for comfort. This challenge zone also takes different forms, but the theme always remains the same in that champions have their spiritual mettle tested, be it facing their worst fears and flaws, temptation fulfilled but with great cost, or making choices that are life-altering.

The base form of the Mirror Gallery is a small building full of mirrors of various shapes, sizes, and types. Depending on what one wishes to gaze on, one may find the mirror they wish to test themselves and attempt to learn what challenges they may face. (i.e: fun-house mirrors, mirrors that show your opposite, mirrors that show what you desire most…)

The Mirror Gallery may be reached via a teleportation pad in the Tapestry gallery of the castle.

The Field (Primarily Physical)

The Field is a designated challenge zone, that adapts and changes as needed for the challenge provided. It is an interdimensional space which may resemble a racing track one time, or a sparring ring another. It can be a vast prairie, or an arctic wasteland. Depending on the climate/atmosphere of the zone, there may be additional challenges for champions here.

The base form of the Field is a large area with mountains, plains, some rivers, and plateaus. It is reachable via a teleportation pad outside of the Castle-grounds along a set path. Where it exists otherwise is not known.

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'Sort of?!' No not at all reassuring.

'Are you two all right?' Himawari asked carefully over the com next.

Ahsoka hadn't felt this good in a bit. There was something about a plan coming together that made her happy. There was a rattling of the grate inside the room and she hissed, moving now with him. "Good plan. Let's... get out of here anyhow. Lead on." She said and would follow at a run.

"We're fine Himawari." Easier to deal with her than Logan, as he moved to lead the way. Coming to the curve they could see, and he's pausing. Stretching out senses and focusing--is that air flow?

"Ahsoka, do you sense anything from that way?" Pointing around the S-curve, because it could just be his imagination.

She heard him talk to Hima on the com and smiled. "They're still okay?" She asked, moving to follow, feeling a bit uncomfortable not having her com piece still. She was used to keeping tabs on everyone if she could. Like her army she had to command, she liked to make sure she knew everyone was... well, not all right but at least in contact.

As they came up to the curve, she slowed, walking, her hand out and trying to focus. "Mmm... nothing weird, at least. Gut feeling says this is a good way to go, but it feels like we're going farther away from the others."

Hmm, Himawari had asked that carefully hadn't she?

"Well, it split us all up, so I'm not surprised if it's leading us away. Doesn't mean we can't find a way to backtrack or get back to them." This felt like the right way to him, and when they rounded the s-curving hallway, the dead-end was obvious. At least aside from the ceiling opening up.

Trunks took a moment to fiddle with his earpiece, taking it off, and holding it out to Ahsoka. "You're more used to it." Besides, he was going to float up and carefully look around where that hole in the ceiling lead to.

When he handed her his ear piece she snorted, taking it. "You sure that's such a good idea? After all, I lost the last one." She said with a shake of her head, taking it and trying to hook it up to her chains again, this time wrapping it uncomfortably into them which should help.

She leaned in to look up the shaft of the opening. It went up a ways. "I suppose you can fly us up there?" She said to him before he might take off to scout it. There was another roar in the distance, from the room. The creature was clearly mad. She frowned, moving to be just a wee bit closer to Trunks, before glancing up again. "Can you... imagine what a ride this would have been, shot up this on a plumb of water?" She frowned at THAT thought.

"If it weren't dangerous, it might be fun." Looking back at her when he heard the roar, frowning and looking back that way. "New plan, we're heading up there. I was going to scout, but we don't know if that thing is trapped for good."

Offering his hand, since it'd be a short trip.

The roar had her standing closer, yeah. And as he said new plan, she gave a firm nod. "Yes, that is a very good plan." And as he offered his hand to her she glanced at it, but then ducked under his arm and tucked it around her, as her arm moved to go around his neck. Very close, yeah, but she wasn't going to lose time here wondering if it was out yet or not. So yes, instead she snugged right up close, as if she was getting used to his flying.

"After you." She said, giving him a small smile before looking away and up.

Easily as close as they had been in the water, and his heart skipped again. Repeatedly; ignoring the heat he could feel on his face, arm moving around her waist to hold her against him. "First floor, Bull-monsters and traps." Trying to joke, mostly to try and avoid how she felt really nice against him.

Levitating, floating them up the long corridor, and stopping enough they could peer over the edge, before committing fully.

She has no idea he was having a moment. She herself felt a bit fluttery, but she held on easy enough, staying close and chuckling at his joke. "Second floor..." She prompted as they got closer, her eyes closing a moment, trying to sense things. "I've... got nothing." She said for life forms or 'danger' signs. As he peeked up she tried to do the same. Just another room, that looked as if it had been a garden at some point. Large, with stone work and dead vines of ivy. At the far end was two doors with words scrolled over each.

"Nothing here either." Visually it seemed peaceful, and safe enough. Moving them up and on solid ground, and taking a breath. Logic kept trying to tell him to let her go now, but emotion wasn't listening. Not with his heartrate higher, and he was too aware of how close they were and he'd missed her.

It had been difficult; his feelings were his problem, not hers--just because she might find someone else she wanted to spend time with. Besides, there was her whole 'code' thing, wasn't there?

It had him tangled in knots, and right then he was keeping his arm around her.

As they came up out of the ground and he didn't let go, she... seemed to not mind. Her arm tightened around his neck a moment, and she leaned back, to peek down at the long shaft. A brow raised. "I wonder if the water would have stopped right here? To let us up in here." She mused, leaning back and away again, closer to him once more before letting out a tired breath.

"I swear, the next time I hit a bed I am going to sleep for hours." She then glanced to him and gave him a faint smile. "I ah, thanks... for the lift." She said, and for some reason was reluctant to let him go, but... she thought maybe she was being clingy, and moved to shift her arm away from his neck and shoulder, to allow him room again.

Her comment brought a grin. "I know what you mean. After a warm shower though." Because that water had been cold, even if he'd dried them both and they'd survived. But he didn't mind her clinging, arm remaining around her waist and he knew he was blushing now. "...anytime." Softly, more emotion in his voice than he'd meant to reveal...

Then he's making himself step back, remove his arm. Taking a breath, and trying to be casual again. "It's nice having a partner to fly with."

She noticed he seemed to not want to let go, and she could feel how close they were and her own face lighting up again with a heat. As they stepped back she chuckled, head down a bit but grinning.

"I'm not sure I'm much of a good flying partner, but I can at least say I enjoy it more now than before?" She nudged him with her elbow as she pasted and started for the doors. "And a warm shower sounds amazing. That water was bone chilling." She had no hair to help her stay warm either. GO figure. "Let's see how much farther we are from a safe house."

"You enjoy it, that's what matters." Grinning with the elbow nudge, then moving to follow her. "Hopefully we're not far." Reaching up and rubbing his neck. "...rude as it might sound, I'm ready for food." He had been burning a lot of energy, but it had been worth it.

"How is that rude? You haven't stopped expelling energy since we started this thing." She asked, leading forward to the dead plant covered wooden doors. Two of them. She frowned as she started to slow to a stop, hands on either side, frowning. One wooden door, one metal door. Both had vines trailing over them, and writing on the doors.

"Tell me this isn't a riddle." She was bad at riddles.

"I think this is a puzzle, which is just as bad." Trunks moved closer, examining the doors. Reaching up to feel along the edges, leaning in close and trying to hear, trying to sense anything...nothing.

But he was able to clear the vines off, to make out the writing. On the Wooden door was a short verse. Look for me not lightly, for I am easy to be found. Seeking to escape me will only cause a frown.

"It's a riddle." Low-voiced and frustration evident. Moving to examine the words on the metal door too. Take away my first letter, and I still sound the same. Take away my last letter, I still sound the same. Even take away my letter in the middle, I will still sound the same. I am a five letter word. What am I?

Neither of them obviously offered any clues as to which way to go, and there didn't seem to be anything like a clue in the room. Not that he could find, anyways.

Ahsoka stood there, looking over the two. She helped clear a door as well, but it didn't really give them much to work with. She held a hand to one door, then moved to the other, concentrating both times.

She stepped back and frowned, rubbing at her head. "I hate riddles..." She mumbled, frowning over at him. "And I can't sense anything on either side of these doors, just that our object is... beyond. Or at least a good way to go is beyond."

Great.

"You and me both." Trunks added with some annoyance. "Honestly, give me something I can take apart and put back together. I'm not the genius Mom is, but I'm not bad with mechanical stuff. Or Math." Or technology and some science in general.

A huff, and then he blinked. "Nothing says we can't ask for help right? You have the comm now, Ahsoka." Even if part of his pride (that he rarely had, but did show up on occasion) stung at asking for help.

"I'm with you on that part. I can take apart a ship and a droid, and get them running again. I suppose I'm not terrible at riddles? But..." she lets out a breath, looking at the one again. "But we can do this. And yeah... we can also... try asking for help."

A pause then... "In a moment." because had a little bit of pride as well, reaching out a hand to push at his shoulder softly, a nudge. "Come on, at least let's give it a try, huh?"

"So next time we deal with clankers, we're taking 'em apart and reprogramming them instead of just blowing them up?" A hint of grin and teasing, letting himself not think about the riddles for a moment. "Besides, you still need to show me a speeder."

As for giving it a try though, he was biting his lip again. "Alright, so...what's easy to find, but trying to get away from it could be bad?" Yes--riddles were plays on words, but they'd get nowhere if they didn't try. Thinking outside the box, so to speak, had worked well for them so far.

She gave a half laugh to that. Was that him picking at her for not wanting to kill things? Naw, she smiled anyhow. "Take one apart, sure, put it back together to work for us? not so much." Though, she did give him a nod. "As soon as I can request things, we're going to show you what a speeder is. It's not flying, but it's fun."

A long sigh as she moved to look at that door. "Right. Okay. Well... traps sure as heck are easy to find and not at all easy to get out of." She rubbed her head and frowned. "Though I don't suppose it would be that easy, huh? A fight is easy to find. Running from it could be bad?" Someone was raised in a war.

She frowned at the other own. "Unless we're using galactic standard basic, I don't know if I can be of much help in this one?" She frowned, looking over the two doors, hand out again, closing her eyes. "It'd be really great if something could just guide me to the right choice." And in a mutter to herself... "Obi-wan wouldn't have this issue..."

Obi-wan would totally have this issue, so no, Ahsoka's fine. Trunks was staring at her, eyes wide but in a good way and he's grinning. "No, Ahsoka...think about what you're saying."

Forget the riddle on the metal door. "Think about it, and tell me if you're following my logic." Because she was smart. "Traps, running, fights...they're all kinds of trouble. People usually go looking for trouble, but then don't want it once they've found it right?"

Pointing at the first part, with the Look for me not lightly....

That wooden-door suddenly seems a lot more ominous.

She frowned, dropping her hand and looking over at him, brow raised. "Wait, you think this door is literally telling us not to seek out trouble? As in it might be trouble?" She questioned, looking at the wooden door, arms crossing.

"Look for me not lightly. Don't seek trouble?"

"It's the only thing I can think of that makes sense..." Hey, it was the best he had. "Unless you're right about the other one..." He's chewing on his lip thumb again, trying to think of five letter words with sounds.

Nope...that one was stumping him. Too many different kinds of pronunciations of words. Shaking his head with a sigh. "Besides, trying to get out of trouble is a pain. It'd make me frown."

She stood there, silent a moment, arms crossed and looking between either door. "Well, we can go with that, and assume this door is trouble, and ignore the riddle on this first one and push through. Or we can ask Tamaki and Himawari for help, or the others, to see if they know it?" She then dropped her hands to her hips and gave him a smile.

"OR... we could burst through one door and hope. If it springs a trap, I'm pretty sure we can handle it." Reckless, but not thoughtless.

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